Vocab List 4

Ennui

A feeling of boredom, dissatisfaction, or lack of interest

Banal

Boring because it is common, ordinary, or overused

Beleaguer

To trouble, harass, or surround with difficulties

Sapient

Having or showing great wisdom and intelligence

Paucity

A small amount; a lack or shortage

Turbid

Cloudy, muddy, or unclear

Perspicacity

The ability to understand things quickly and accurately

Clandestine

Secret or concealed; done in a hidden way

Irascible

Easily irritated or angered

Extirpate

To completely destroy or get rid of something

The townspeople’s fascination with Emily’s private life was hardly __________; her unusual behavior had become a source of gossip and speculation for generations.

banal

After Homer Barron disappeared, Emily continued living alone, seemingly unaffected by the passage of time or the __________ that might come from such an isolated existence.

ennui

The townspeople were __________ by their curiosity about Emily, yet they were often unwilling to confront her directly about what they suspected was happening inside her house.

beleaguered

Emily’s decision to keep her relationship with Homer largely __________ allowed the townspeople to speculate about the couple without knowing the truth.

clandestine

When the townspeople finally entered Emily’s upstairs room, the horrifying discovery required considerable __________ to understand the clues that had been hidden for so many years.

perspicacity

The __________ condition of the town’s old traditions reflects how resistant Jefferson is to change throughout the story.

turbid

Faulkner presents Emily as an almost __________ figure at times, because she seems to exist outside the ordinary understanding of time, death, and social expectations.

sapient

The __________ of reliable information about Emily’s life allows rumors to flourish throughout Jefferson.

paucity

Emily’s __________ personality makes the townspeople hesitant to challenge her, even when her behavior seems strange or troubling.

irascible

Emily’s attempt to __________ the changes brought by modern life ultimately fails, as Jefferson continues to change around her.

extripate